Fun and Engaging Tool for Preparing for First Day of School Wins Mobile Apps – Education Category

BOSTON – June 10, 2014–FamilyEducation’s Kindergarten Readiness App is the winner of a Gold Award of Excellence, from the 2014 Communicator Awards, honoring big ideas in marketing and communication. The one-of-a-kind app for iPad® and iPhone® that allows parents to track their child’s readiness for the first day of school was recognized in the Mobile Apps – Education category.

Developed by the parenting experts at FamilyEducation and featuring the loveable characters from Funbrain Jr.™, the Kindergarten Readiness App is a fun and engaging tool to help children get ready for kindergarten.Available for download on the App StoreSM, it allows parents to discover the skills that their preschoolers will need for kindergarten using a comprehensive and interactive checklist. The checklist includes skills in the areas of early math and literacy; cognitive development; self-care and motor skills; and social/communication skills. To help kids practice these kindergarten skills, the app provides interactive games and suggested activities that kids and parents can do together.

“Anticipating the first day of school can cause anxiety for little ones and their parents as well. We developed the Kindergarten Readiness App to help parents ensure that their children are prepared for success from the first day they enter the classroom,” said Jess M. Brallier, publisher, FamilyEducation. “It is an honor to have our new app recognized for its educational value by this prestigious award program.”

Young learners can practice skills, such as identifying alphabet letters or tracing basic shapes, right within the app, through games provided by Funbrain Jr., as well as through “off-app” activities they can do with their parents. For example, children can practice recognizing rhyming sounds by playing Funbrain Jr.’s “Rhyme Time” game or by playing “Nursery Rhyme Jumble” with their parents. Once the game is won, the child earns a virtual sticker and the skill is automatically checked off the list.

Parents love the way the app monitors progress and kids find it fun and engaging. As one mother wrote in a review on the App Store, “It’s a great way for me to keep track of my kids’ progress before school starts. My daughter loves the games and cute characters.”

Created in collaboration between Sudden Industries, a digital services agency, and FamilyEducation,the Kindergarten Readiness App is available for iPad® 2, 3 and 4, and iPhone® 4s and 5 for $1.99. No in-app purchases are necessary to access all content.

iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple, Inc.

About Family Education (FamilyEducation.com) and Funbrain Jr. (FunbrainJr.com)

FamilyEducation is the leading online publisher of practical parenting guidance, expert family advice, printables, skill-building exercises and activities for children. FamilyEducation is dedicated to educating parents and parents-to-be, so they can raise healthy, educated and well-rounded children.

Funbrain Jr. (“A Fun Place to Learn”) helps preschoolers and kindergartners jumpstart their journey of learning with engaging games, stories and printables. Kids will love playing and learning with Funbrain Jr., and parents will love that they’re building math, early literacy and problem-solving skills, while also developing important computer skills. Come discover our world – sit together and play, or let your little learner explore Funbrain Jr. independently – it’s up to you!

FamilyEducation and Funbrain Jr. are published by Pearson, the world’s leading learning company.